Chrysanthemum plant named Cream Tara

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Cream Tara particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form, anemone capitulum type, light yellow ray floret color, diameter across face of capitulum of up to 7.5 cm at maturity, with diameter of anemone cushion of up to 3 cm when grown as a pinched spray pot mum, uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days, medium plant height when grown as a pinched pot mum, and spreading and prolific branching pattern.

The present invention, comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, and referred to by the cultivar name Cream Tara.

Cream Tara, identified as 83-436B26, is a product of a mutation induction program which had the objective of creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars that would expand the color range of an existing cultivar while retaining all other traits.

Cream Tara was discovered and selected by Cornelis P. VandenBerg on Dec. 30, 1986 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. as one flowering plant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttings from stock plants which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to an X-ray source of 1500 rads. The irradiated parent was the cultivar identified as Tara, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,313.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Cream Tara was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in March of 1987 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by technicians working under formulations established and supervised by Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successive plantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Cream Tara are firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Cream Tara has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Canada, under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of Cream Tara, which, in combination, distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Anemone capitulum type.

3. Light yellow ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum up to 7.5 cm at maturity, when grown as a pinched spray pot mum.

5. Uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

6. Medium plant height, requiring 0 to 7 long days after pinch prior to short days and 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP to attain a flowered plant height of 25 to 35 cm for year-round flowerings when grown as a pinched pot mum in a 15 cm pot.

7. Branching pattern is spreading and prolific.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence and leaf characteristics of Cream Tara, with the colors being as nearly true as possible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Cream Tara grown as a pinched spray pot mum. Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence of Cream Tara. Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and under sides of the leaves of Cream Tara at three stages of development (mature, intermediate and immature).

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to Cream Tara is the parent cultivar Tara. All traits of Cream Tara are similar to those of Tara, except the color of ray florets. Cream Tara has a light yellow ray floret color, while the color of Tara is pure white.

In the following description color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determined on plant material grown as a pinched spray pot mum in Salinas, Calif. on Mar. 31, 1989.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Cream Tara.

Commercial.--Anemone spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Anemone.

Diameter across face.--Up to 7.5 cm at maturity.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Light yellow.

Color (upper surface).--4C.

Color (under surface).--2D.

Shape.--Slightly concave, straight, oblong.

C. Corolla of disc florets (Anemone cushion):

Color (mature).--6A to 6B.

Color (immature).--2A tinged with 144B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Medium; 25 to 35 cm as a pinched spray pot mum with 0 to 7 long days after pinch prior to short days and 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Lobed and serrated. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Cream Tara, as described and illustrated. 